Dumping-bucket



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. E. & EQS; LUDLOW.

DUMPING BUCKET.

No. 424,989; Patented Apr. '8, 1890.

i To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT Urricn.

WVILLIAM E. LUDLOW AND EDGAR S. LUDLOWV, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

DUMPlNG-BUCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,989, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed January 20, 1890. Serial No. 337,557. (No model.)

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. LUDLOW and EDGAR S. LU DLOW, citizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dumping- Buckets; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to dumping-buckets, especially of that character of bucket employed in loading and unloading coal and analogous material; and it has for its object to construct a counterbalance-bucket which, when tripped to discharge the contents, shall automatically adjust for the reception of another load.

A further object is to construct a bucket having a central post rigidly connected with the bottom and arranged to move vertically within an annular guide within the bucket.

A further object is to provide a cone-shaped bottom having a concave surface to deflect the moving load in its discharge with a maximum radius from the same, whereby to properly trim the load.

A further object is to provide a yielding bearing for the central po t to relieve the same from rigid impact when the weight of the load is sustained thereon.

A further object is to provide an automatically-adjustable catch for the trip mechanism, there being further details of construction and arrangements of parts to insurerigidity and cheapness, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved bucket. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the bucket with the bottom shown in full lines and closed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the bucket with the bottom dropped to discharge the load, a portion of the bucket and also the central tube being broken away to disclose the operation of the spring. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of a portion of the central tube with the hanger secured thereto,

and means for suspending the bottom of the buckets therein. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a portion of the hanger, showing the central post, with which the bottom is connected, secured therein by means of the catches pivoted within the hanger. Fig. 6 is a like view showing the lock raised and the catches open to allow the bottom to drop.

A designates the body of the bucket, to which is secured a bail B, having a central opening 0, through which a hanger D has a free movement in opening or closing the bottom of the bucket. Hanger D comprises a cylindrical portion E, having grooved pulleys F journaled therein at diametrically-opposite sides, over which are passed suspension-chains G, each of which is secured at one end to the bail and at the opposite end to a vertical rod G, to which the bottom H of the bucket is secured, the relative weights of the body of the bucket and the bottom thereof being such that normally the body overbalances the bottom and closes the bucket when relieved of its load. Rod G is formed with a semi-cylindrical head I, terminating in a shoulder J, with which catches K engage when the bucket is closed, the catches being pivotally connected with the hanger at K, and counterweighted to remain normally open when they are tripped to allow the bottom to descend. Each catch is formed with a shoulder L to engage with the head of rod G, and with an inwardlycurved portion L, above which there are outwardlyinclined portions L, adapted to receive the correspondinglyshaped end N of a locking-dog N, connected with a lever O by means of a strap 0, whereby when the outer end of the lever O is depressed the locking-dog will be raised, thereby allowing the catches K to open and release the rod G, permitting the bottom to descend and discharge the load, when the upper or weighted ends of the catches close sufliciently to sustain the locking-dog, as shown in Fig. 6.

P designates straps secured one upon each side of the rod G, preferably by inserting the lower right angled ends P into recesses formed in the rod G, and held in place by a band P, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the chains G being secured to the upper end thereof.

Q designates a tubular extension of the ICO hangers, through which rod G passes, to not only guide the same vertically, but to contain a spiral spring R to receive the impact of the descending rod when the catches are tripped, and to assist in returning the bottom to close the bucket. Spring R rests against a collar S upon the rod G, there being a collar S upon the rod G above the spring to contact with the same in the descent of the rod. By this construction the bottom of the bucket can swing to one side, if necessary, to allow large chunks of coal or other material to pass between the same and the body of the bucket.

T designates hoods or fenders partially covering the pulleys F, to protect the same from the material being thrown into the bucket, there being a hook or eye '1" above the same, to which the hoisting rope or chain is secured.

One of the main advantages of our invention is the fact that the material when dumped is deflected radially from the bucket, thereby not only obviating the necessity of trimming, but preventing the breakage of coal, &c., incident to a second handling.

To insure a movement of greater radius than ordinarily, we form the con e-shaped side of the bottom in concave form, as shown, whereby the load is deposited over a greater area than when formed with a true incline, and to protect the metal of the bottom we form the base II of wood, which maybe readily replaced when worn.

I11 operation, the bottom being closed upon the bottom of the body and the catches K in engagement with the head of rod G and held in engagement by means of locking-dog N, the bucket is filled and swung to the place where it is desired to deposit the load, when the operator pulls upon lever 0, thereby raising the locking-dog N, when the catches K open, permitting the rod G and bottom H connected therewith to drop and discharge the load. The collar S 011 red G, contacting with spring R, compresses the same, with the effect of graduating the descent of the bottom and relieving the bucket of sudden impact. As soon as the load is discharged, the spring expands and assists the body of the bucket, together with the weight of the locking-dog, in returning the rod G to engagement with the catches, and thereby automatically locking the bucket closed. As the end of rod G ascends, it strikes the inwardlycurved portions 1/ of the catches, thereby opening the upper ends of the catches and closing the shoulders L upon the shoulders J of the rod and permitting the locking-dogN to drop in to place, thereby lockin g the catches into engagement with the head of the red, when the operationis repeated.

It will be seen that by reason of the body and bottom of the bucket being counterbalanced to automatically close and lock much time is saved which has heretofore been necessarily employed in closing and locking the same, and that by means of the novel catch and lock employed the load is easily tripped.

The tubular extension Q, coacting with the rigid rod G, always insures a perfect closure of the bottom with the body of the bucket. By reason of the body of the bucket and the bottom being connected to move in opposite directions there need only be one-half of the ordinary vertical movement to open the bucket the desired distance.

\Vhat we claim is- 1. I11 a dumping-bucket in which the bottom is separate from the body portion, the combination of a hanger, pulleys upon said hanger, and chains or ropes passed over the pulleys and attached to the bottom and to the body portion, whereby the body portion and y the bottom may move in opposite directions away from and toward each other, and whereby, also, the former may serve as a counter-weight to close the bucket.

2. In a dumping-bucket, a hanger having a tubular extension within the body of the bucket, and catches pivoted within the hanger, in combination with a bottom having a vertical rod movable within the tubular extension, and formed with a head to engage the catches, and for the purpose set forth.

3. I11 a dumping-bucket, a body portion, a bail secured transversely thereof and having a central opening, and a hanger arranged within the opening, in combination with a bottom portion flexibly connected with the body portion, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a dumping-bucket, a hanger formed with a tubular portion extending within the bucket, a bottom portion formed with a central rod extending within the tubular portion, a coiled spring within the tubular extension, and a collar upon the rod to contact with the spring when the bottom is dropped, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a dumpingbucket, a hanger, catches pivoted within the hanger, each catch having an inwardly-projecting portion and an upper inclined portion, a locking-clog adapted to rest within the inclined portions of the catches, and mechanism for operating the dog, in combination with a vertical rod so shaped at its upper end as to close the catches 011 coming into contact with them, and having projections with which the catches engage, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a dumping-bucket, a vertically-11lovable bottom formed with a concave conoidal upper surface, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a dumping-bucket, a bottom formed of a metal plate having a concave conoidal upper surface and an insert-ible wooden base portion, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we hereby afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM E. LUDLOIV. EDGAR S. LUDLO\V.

Witnesses:

CARROLL J. WEBSTER, WILLIAM WEBSTER. 

